Archive for the 'Grammys' Tag Under 'Soundcheck' Category

It surely will be spoken of as the night the robots took over. But years from now the most memorable moment may prove to be the sight of a few dozen couples being married by Queen Latifah before millions on live television, amid a Madonna-enhanced performance of the gay-rights anthem “Same Love” from four-time winning duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

That’s a fitting dichotomy, for the title of most decorated artists at the 56th annual Grammy Awards, held Sunday evening at Staples Center in Los Angeles, wound up split.

Macklemore (born Ben Haggerty) and his production partner took an early lead in the lengthy ceremony, nabbing three rap trophies in the pre-telecast presentation, for album, song and performance, the latter two for “Thrift Shop.” Not long into CBS’ prime-time show, they also picked up the best new artist crown.

That set the pace to beat, and it’s a major achievement for both the tenacious Seattle team and independent music in general. The Suburbs, Arcade Fire’s album of the year winner from three years ago, also succeeded outside of the major-label system, yet The Heist, M&RL’s sleeper smash, is the sort of grass-roots creation that in decades past never would have had a shot at so many prizes.

The clear favorite going into this evening’s final awards: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

The Seattle duo, whose raft of hit singles off independent sensation The Heist has carried it into the Grammys with seven nominations, emerged the big winner after the pre-telecast portion of the 56th annual ceremony, when victors in all but 10 categories were revealed. Not unexpectedly, M&RL dominated the rap fields, including trophies for album, song and performance, the latter two for “Thrift Shop.”

They did lose one face-off, best music video, which went to the David Fincher-directed clip for Justin Timberlake & Jay Z’s “Suit & Tie.” Timberlake also deservedly won best R&B song, for “Pusher Love Girl.”

But Macklemore & Ryan Lewis could still end up with the night’s highest tally, if they can pull off what would be a stunning sweep of three of four top categories: record and song of the year as well as best new artist. Even if they take just one or two of those, that may still place them at the front of the pack.

Let’s not kid ourselves: No one really cares who wins Grammy Awards except spurned losers, a handful of record labels hoping their wares get a bump in sales, and the winners themselves.

The real reason millions will tune into CBS Sunday at 8 p.m. is to see the Big Show.

Despite wise consolidation of categories in recent years – the better to bring balance to a tradition that has rewarded Rihanna six times but Diana Ross none (though she has a lifetime prize) – this most exalted of music ceremonies continues to undercut the meaning of adding new names to the decades-long list of legends and travesties who have won in the past.

It’s still a classy broadcast, rarely on the saucy side, and more capable than ever of producing buzz-inducing stunts. Yet ever since the event moved to Staples Center in 2000, its focus has shifted from recognizing greatness to chasing ratings with exclusive performances. You hardly need two hands to count the number of televised awards. (If you prefer seeing people thrilled to be acknowledged for their talents, watch the pre-telecast online starting at 1 p.m., when the majority of trophies are handed out across the street at Nokia Theatre.)

You'd think that the Beatles would have been honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award years – no, decades – ago.

After all, their contemporaries the Rolling Stones were saluted that way back in 1986. Paul McCartney himself was similarly singled out in 1990. The list of legends who either rose in popularity alongside the Fab Four (the Beach Boys, the Who) or whose careers came later (Bee Gees, David Bowie, the Ramones) is a lengthy one.

Perhaps the Recording Academy was simply (if also needlessly) waiting until 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' galvanizing arrival in America. Whatever the reason, the oversight is finally being corrected: John, Paul, George and Ringo will receive their lifetime acknowledgment at the 56th Grammy Awards, Jan. 26 at Staples Center.

Presumably McCartney will be on hand to wave to the cameras or, more likely, perform, seeing as he's nominated for three competitive prizes this time, including best music film for Live Kisses and best rock song for "Cut Me Some Slack," the jam he put together with Dave Grohl and other Foo Fighters for Sound City.

Critics and audiences may have celebrated Justin Timberlake and Kanye West throughout 2013, but the Recording Academy isn’t likely to do much of the same come February.

Nominations for the 56th annual Grammy Awards were revealed Friday during a live television event at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, and though several expected names landed in top categories – including Taylor Swift, French duo Daft Punk, Seattle sensation Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar – two of the most famous faces in modern music were conspicuously absent.

Timberlake wasn’t entirely snubbed, picking up seven nods overall, among them best pop vocal performance for the single “Mirrors” and best pop vocal album for The 20/20 Experience. But both titles were predicted by Rolling Stone and other forecasters to land in races for record and album of the year. West’s edgier “Yeezus” was a less likely possibility for the top competition, despite ranking high on myriad year-end lists since this month began.

Tying Timberlake’s tally are Lamar, whose heralded major-label debut Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City is up for album of the year, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, whose independent success The Heist got the same nod. That pair also vies for best new artist and song of the year, for the gay rights anthem “Same Love.”

At this point, the nominations concert is becoming almost as big a deal as the Grammys themselves.

For the sixth consecutive year, the names vying for trophies will be revealed via a star-studded bash dubbed “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!” Last time the event, televised on CBS, shifted from Club Nokia to L.A. Live’s larger Nokia Theatre, and that’s where it will be held again, on Dec. 6.

The slate of performers so far includes more than a few surefire nominees, including Drake (above), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Keith Urban and Robin Thicke. In addition to his bit during the on-air hour, the “Blurred Lines” heartthrob also will give an exclusive performance for the Nokia crowd after the taping.

LL Cool J, who has hosted this ratings-grabber since it began in 2008 and has twice led the awards show itself, will return to steer the proceedings. Additional performers and presenters are expected to be announced soon. (Wouldn't be surprising to see Justin Timberlake there, seeing as he's apt to rack up the most nominations, although he plays Houston the night before.)

“The Weight”: The moment below this one had far more infectious energy, but this one edges it out with glowing spirit. To cap the memorial portion, an image of Levon Helm finishing the somber necrology, Elton John – while dashing off marvelous Leon Russell-esque runs – led an all-star cast through a terrifically soulful rendition of the Band classic, with Zac Brown leading each round of stacked chorus harmonies.

Mavis Staples is a treasure, Marcus Mumford tried to match her gospel growl and held his own, and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard outdid ’em both on the “Crazy Chester” verse, nailing high notes the way Ms. Staples used to. With Brown and Mumford beaming on either side of her, the legend looked on approvingly, and for a moment a torch was passed. Then Sir Elton, who had also dedicated the rousing performance to lost ones at Sandy Hook, took it on home. A superb send-off.

Marcus Mumford takes a bite out of the Grammy for album of the year, which British folk group Mumford & Sons garnered for their second disc, Babel. Photo: Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Most of the talk going into Sunday’s Grammy Awards at Staples Center centered on R&B newcomer Frank Ocean. Would the buzz over not just his evident talent but his coming out in a genre not exactly known for gay stars help make him the night’s big winner?

Apparently not. Ocean, one of several artists with six nominations apiece ahead of the 55th annual ceremony, wound up among a handful of acts to claim two prizes in one of the most topsy-turvy, spread-about Grammys in recent memory.

Both of his wins were notable for such a fast-rising career yet neither came in major categories. He shared best rap/sung collaboration with Jay-Z and Kanye West for “No Church in the Wild” and scored the urban contemporary album honor, a newly amalgamated category, for his widely (and rightly) hailed disc Channel Orange.

The main show at Staples Center doesn't start until 5 p.m. and doesn't air on the West Coast for three hours after that. But the majority of trophies – 70 in all – are being handed out across the street at Nokia Theatre during the Grammy Awards pre-telecast ceremony, streaming live and hosted by David Alan Grier.

R&B newcomer Frank Ocean, one of several artists entering these festivities with six nominations, lost his first right away when best short-form video went not to his collaboration with Kanye West & Jay-Z ("No Church in the Wild") but to Rihanna's jam with Calvin Harris, "We Found Love." It's Ri-Ri's fifth win overall.

Photo: Six artists have six Grammy nominations apiece this year, including (clockwise from top left) Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, fun., Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons and Kanye West. Illustration by Rick Ho, Orange County Register. Click the pic for more nominees.

Adele sweeping her way to a six-win coronation at last year's Grammy Awards was the easiest thing for prognosticators to predict since Norah Jones had everyone's vote virtually a decade earlier.

But this time, despite murmurs that it might be a big night for mellow yet startling R&B newcomer Frank Ocean (don't count on it), the prizes are apt to be so spread around that the top stars of the ceremony may only take home a pair of trophies apiece.